Pipe tongs



May 3, 1927. 1,627,260

c. E. wlLcox PIPE ToNGs Filed April, l0, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i BY YTURNEXS.

l Patented May 3, 1.927.

the body of the link 22.v

UNITED STATES 1,621,260 PATENT oFF-ICE.

CHARLES E. WILCOX, OF ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELmU C. WILSON.

lPIPE Tones.

Application filed April 10, 1922. Serial No. 551,252.

This invention relates to pipe tongs such as are commonly used 1n oil well drilling.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pipe tongs which will close automatically when swung against a pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide in pipe tongs a means whereby the swing of the jaws thereof may be confined to certain predetermined limits.

It is a further object of'my invention to provide a pipe tongs in which'the jaws thereof will be automatically adjusted to their proper working positions around the object which they are to grip by merely forcing the open jaws thereagainst.

Other objects and advantages will become evident hereinafter.

Referring tothe drawing which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a View illustrating the manner in which my invention is commonly used.

lFig. 2 is a' perspective view of pipe tongs embodying my invention.

Fig'. 3 is a plan view of the tongs shown in Fig. 1 in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the reducing bushings I use to adapt the tongs to different sizes of pipe.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tongs in open position preparatory to being swung against a pipe upon which they are to be used.

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5 showing the jaws of the tongs being closed around the pipe.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing tongs equipped with reducing bushings being closed around a pipe.

In the form of my invention shown in the" drawing, a forward toggle link 11. is pivoted at 12 to the end of a lever 13, and an after toggle link 14 ispivoted to the lever 13 at 15. A floating link 20 is hinged to the toggle link V11 upon a pin 21. and a floating link 22 is hinged to the toggle link 14 upon a pin 23'. Upon the link 2O I mount an arcuated arm or link 25 having in' it a hole 26 to accommodate the head of the pin 2l. The arm 25 is secured in place upon the link 20 by being placed over the head of the pin 21 and by having a machine screw 27 .passed into the link 20 through the end 28 of the arm 25. An armor link 30 is mounted upon the link 22 and held thereupon by the head of the pin 23 and a. machine screw 33 which passes through the end 34 of the arm 30 into It will be perceived that any movement of either of the floating links will be imparted to the arm mounted thereupon owing to the two point engagement with which thearm is secured to` the link- An outward movement of the link 22 as'indicated by the arrow 45 in Fig. 3 is accompanied by an inwardtravel of the end 36 of the arm 30 as4 indicated by the arrow 46 in the same figure. In Fig. 1, I show my invention in its most common use, that of holding well casing 50i while joints are being screwed up, and wherein it is customary to swing the tongs upon chains 51, or other suitable means, so that the tongs may be swung into operating position as shown or back out of the way ofthe workmen without having to lift them each time they are to be moved. When the jaws of the tongs, which jaws are comprised of the hnks heretofore mentioned, are inrthe open position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the

'inner ends 35 and 36 are in a position conthe linkj20 and the jaws are thus securely locked in operative position.

The reducing bushing 60, shown in Fig.

4 in perspective and in Fig. 7 in use upon the tongs, is composed of semic lindrical shoes 61 adapted to nearly surroun the ipe on which its use is intended, and which s loes are provided with flanges 62. The shoes V61 are linked together by a slotted link 63 which extends between pins 64 mounted upon the vflanges 62 thereof. "The arms 25 and 30 are removed from the tongs when it is desired to use the bushing 60 as the bushing is so constructed `that it will perform the same functions as the arms 25 and 30. The flan es 62 are provided withholes 65 through which the pins 21 and 23 extend when the bushing is in place upon the jaws o f the tongs, and the screws 27 and 33 pass through holes 66 in the flanges 62 securing the bushing members to the floating links 20 and 22 so as to be turnable therewith uponthe pins 21 and 23; The rearward portions 68 of the bushing shoes swing forwardas the jaws of the tongs are opened in the same manner and for the same purpose as the actuating' 1. .A pipe tongs comprisingz' a series of l members adapted to enclose and grip a pipe;

means for securing the free ends of said members together about a pipe; means for constricting said members about a pipe;

and arms removably attached to said members, there being projections on said arms engaged by said pipe to close said members about said pipe.

2. In a pipe tongs having a plurality of members adapted to encircle and engage a pipe, vthe combination of arms removably attached to some of said members, there being projections on said arms so placed as to be automatically actuated by the pipe to close the members about said pipe. y

3. A pipe tongs comprising two toggle links; a to le lever having one pin to which one oi sai toggle links is pivoted and a second pin to which the 'other of said toggle links is pivoted; a floating link pivoted on the free end of one of said toggle links; a floating link pivoted on the free end of the other of said toggle links; means for locking the free ends of said floating links together; one member secured to one of said floating links and projecting, when the tongs are open, into the space occupied by the pipe when the tongs are closed, and a second member' similarly secured to the other of said oating links and similarly projecting.

4. A pipe `tongs ycomprising two toggle links; a floating link pivoted on the free end of one of said toggle links; a floating link pivoted on the \ree endof the other of said toggle links.; means for locking the free ends of said floating links together; a lever arranged` to compress the encircling band, formed of said four links, against the pipe;

one member secured to one of said fioating links and projecting, when the tongs are open, into the space occupied by the pipe when the tongs are closed; and a secondmember similarly secured to the other of said ioating links and similarly projecting.

5. In a pipe tongs, the combination of a fulcrum'lever, a plurality of links one of which is hinged to the lever and another of which is hinged to the iirst mentioned link to form a band to encircle a pipe, means to hold the links invtheir pipe encircling position, said band being so constructed that it can beopened to allow -it to be placed about a pipe, and a member removably attached to the last mentioned link and so placed as to be struck bya pipe as it is swung inside said links and thus throw said links about said pipe.

46. In a well casing tongs, the combination with the operating handle, of a plurality of work engaging jaws adapted to encircle and grip the work, connections between two of the jaws and handle, said jaws being ada ted to be opened and closed for the wor to be placed in and removed from the tool, the -center of gravity of the tongs remaining substantially stationary during the opening and closing of said jaws, oppositely disposed means engageable with the wor: as the latter is moved into the jaws for'closing the jaws around the work, and means for releasably locking the jaws in closed position.

7. In a well casing tongs, the combination with an operating handle, of a plurality of circularly arranged gripping jaws, vpivotal connections between the handle and two of sai-d jaws, releasable locking means connecting the jaws at a point remote4 from the handle, the jaws intermediate the handle and said locking means beingv pivotally connected whereby the releasably locked jaws may be opened for placing the work within ythe jaws, and means carried bythe said jaws for automatically moving each of said jaws toward the other around the work, as the latter is inserted between them, the center of gravity of the tongs remaining substan tially stationary during the opening and closing of the jaws.

8. Ina well casing tongs, the combination of. an operating handle, inner opposed gripping jaws operatively connected to the handle, outer opposed gripping jaws pivotally connected to the inner jaws, said outer jaws being movable on their pivotal centers to open and close the tongs whereby the work may be inserted in and removed from the tongs, means movable into the bore of the tongs by an'opening movement of both the.outer jaws and adapted to be engaged by the work to close said jaws uponinsertion of the work in the tongs, and means for releasably locking the jaws in closed position.

9. In a 'well casing tongs, the combination of an operating handle, inner opposed grippnig jaws operatively connected to said handle, outer opposed gripping jaws pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the 'inner jaws, whereby said outer jaws lnay bev opened and closed to permit the work to be inserted in and .removed from the tongs, f

one segment of each series being pivoted to nected to one `of the last mentioned segments of each series, projecting into the segment enclosed space when the tongs are open, and adapted to be engaged and moved by the pipe to close that segment and with it another pivotally connected segment, onto the pipe.

11. A pipe tongs 'comprising a'handle and two series of pivotally interconnected s egments adapted together to encircle a pipe,

one segment of 1ea'ch series being pivoted to the handle and the other segments of each series being pivoted to and pivotally j supported on .the handle pivoted segment of that series, and a projecting member connected to one of the last mentioned segments of each series, projecting into the segment enclosed vspace when the tongs areI open, and adapted. to be engaged and moved by i j the pipe to close that segment and with it the pipe; the two series of segments beingI arranged in substantially symmetrical rela-` tion with respect to the handle, ,andthelr another pivotally connected segment, onto projecting ends being near each other.J

12. In a well casing tongs, the combination of an operating handle, a'pair Aof inner 4opposed gripping jaws pivotally ,mounted on the handle,.a pair of outer opposed gripping jaws pivoted on the inner jaws and adapted to be opened and closed' to permit Work to be inserted in and `Vremoved from the tongs, means for automatically closing the outer jaws. upon insertion of the work in the ton s, said closing means being movable into t e bore of the tongs by an opening movement of the outer jaws, means fory limiting the opening movement of said outer jaws, and meansl forreleasably locking the outer jaws in closed position. f

13. In a well casing tongs, the combination of an operating handle, a pair of inner opposed gripping jaws pivotally mounted on the handle, a pair of outer opposed gripping jaws pivoted on the inner jaws and adapted to be opened and closed to permit r work to be inserted in and removed from the tongs, means for automatically closin the outer jaws upon insertion of the wor in the tongs, said closing means being mounted'on the outerjaws ,and being movable into .the bore of the tongs by an opening movement of the louter jaws, and means j for releasably locking the outer jawsin closed position, said movement limiting means for the outer jaws comprising a connecting link connected to and extending between the closing means.

14. A pipe tongs 4comprising a handley and two series of pivotally inter-connected segments adapted together to encircle a pi one se ent of each series bein pivotgd to the gliriilndle and the other segnents of each series being pivoted to andpivotally supported on the handle pivoted segment of that series, and a projectin member connected to one of the last mentioned segments of each series, projecting intoythel segment enclosed space when the tongs are open, and adapted to be engaged and moved by the pipe to close that segment and with it another pivotally connected segment, onto the pipe; and motion limiting connection etween the projecting ends of said memers.

15. In a pipe tongs, the combination of a handle, a jaw connected with the handle, another jaw pivoted to the first mentioned jaw, and adapted to be swung open to enable the jaws to be placed around a pipe, means, to hold the jaws closed, and a reducin g bushing rigidly carried by the last mentioned jaw and swinging therewith, adapted to rest against the face of the first mentioned jaw when the jaws are closed to reduce the effectual diameter ofthe tongs, and adapted when the second mentioned jaw is swung open to project into the space within the jaws.

16. In a pipe tongs, thel combination of a ful'crum lever, a plurality of links one of which is hinged to the lever and another of which is hinged to the first mentioned link to forma band to encircle a pipe, means to hold theilinks in their pipe encircling position, sai'd band beingso constructed that it 'canbe opened to allow it to be placed about a plpe, and a member removably attached" to the last mentioned link and so placed as to be struck by a pipe as it is swung inside said links and thus throw said links about said pipe, said member including a bushing that rests against the iirst mentioned link when the tongs are closed to reduce the effectual working size of the tongs.

17.V A pipe tongs comprising a handle and two series of pivotally inter-connected segments adapted together to encircle al pipe, one segment of each series being pivoted to the handle and the other segments of each series being pivoted to and pivotally supported on the/,handle pivoted segment of that series, and a projecting member connected to one-of the last mentionedsegments of each series, projecting into the segment enclosed space when the-tongs are open, and adapted-to be engaged and'moved by the pipe to close that segment and with it another pivotally connected segment, onto the pipe, said last mentioned means including a bushing adapted to rest against one of the first mentioned links when the tongs are closed to reduce the effectual working size of the tongs.

18. In a we ll casin tongs, -the'combination of an operating andle, inner opposed loo gripping jaws operatively connected tothe handle, outer opposed gripping jaws pivotally connected to the inner jaws, said outer jaws `being movable on their pivotal centers to open aud close the tongs whereby the work may be inserted in and removed from the tongs,two members mounted each on one of the outer jaws and adapted to be engaged by the work to close said jaws upon insertion of the work in the tongs, said members each including a reducing bushing adapted to rest against the corresponding inner jaw when the tongs are closed and to reduce the effectual working size of the tongs, and means for' releasably locking the jaws in closed position.

19. In a pipe tongs, the combination of a handle, a jaw connected with the handle, another jaw pivoted to the iirst mentioned jaw and adapted to be swung open to enable the jaws to be placed around a pipe, means to hold vthe jaws closed about a plpe, and a combined. bushing and closingv member removably mounted on and swinging with the last mentioned jaw," saidA member having a bushing part that lies inside a jaw and having a' part adapted to project into the space within the jaws when the second mentioned jaw is swung open and adapted to be struck by the pipe when the jaws are placed thereupon.

' 20. Improvements-in tongs, comprising a pair of jaws each jaw comprising a plurality of hinged sections and cam meanshinged at the hinged zone of such`sections and adapted to engage certainl of the sections about the work.

2l. Improvements in tongs, comprising a pair of jaws each jaw comprising a plurality of hinged sections, vand cam means hinged at the hinged zone of such sections and adapted to engage work upon entrance of such work between the jaws to cam cer-l tain of the sections about' the work; in combination with means for automatically latchingrthe jaws about the work when all of the sections of Said jaws are in close engagement with the wor 22. In a pipe y a handle, a jaw connected with the handle, another jaw. pivoted to the irst mentioned jaw and adaptedv to be swung open` to enable the jaw to be placed along the' pipe, meansto hold the, jaws in pipe encircling position, and a member removably mounted upon the pivot of the second mentioned jaw and attached to said second mentioned jaw and so placed as to be struck by a pipe when said second mentioned jaw islin open position.

In 'testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,'California, this 3rd day of April 1922.

CHARLES E. WILCOX.

tongs, the combination ot'l 

